And john mueller



i 1,627.394 May 1927' w. w. LASKER ET AL VARIABLE FEED MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVE/VTOES 1,627,394 May 1927' w. w. LASKER ET AL VARIABLE FEED MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILILLAM W. LASKEB, OF BBOOKLEN, NEW YORK, AND JOHN MUELLER, OF NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T POWERS ACCOUNTING MACHINE CORPORA- TION, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VARIABLE-FEED MECHANISM FOR TABULATING MACHINES.

Application filed August 12, 19254 The resent invention relates to feeding means or record paper platens, and more particularly to a control for intermittent feeding of such )latens.

6 Some of the OlJjccts of the present inven tion are to provide means for varying the feed of an intermittently operating mechanism While the device is operating; to provide a control for a paper feeding mech- 1 anism whereby the step by step periods vary in length; to provide means for causing an intermittent feed device to function alter nately with the working strokes of the machine of which it is a part; to provide 15 means in a printing tabulator for causing the printing means to print twice on the same line of the paper; to provide means for alternately feeding and discontinuing feeding a paper teed whereby the line spacing device operates to maintain a line in prmtlog position for more than one printing operation; to provide means for checking two record cards following each other in succession and intended to have duplicate records perforated therein; to provide means for releasing the platen of a tabulator from its feeding means; to provide means for imparting different step by step motions to a paper feeding platen; and to provide other imprt'ivcments as will hereinafter appear.

in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1, represents an end elevation of a tahulating machine provided with a variable platen feed cmhodying one form of the present invention; Fig. represents a detail showing the feed adjuncts in edge elevation; Fig. 3 represents the variable feed control in its inoperable msitionz Fig. 4 represents the variahle iced control in operative position; and l-ig. 5 represents the variable feed coi'itrol as rendered entirely inwperative.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention is shown, by way of example. embodied in a machine of the printing tabulator type though only such parts of the machine are here illustrated as will permit a complete understanding of the invention Thus the parts of the tabulator are su 'iported by a frame which ca rics a platen 11, for the record paper, arranged to be intermittently turned about its axis to advance the paper line by line to Serial No. 49,860.

printing position opposite the type or printmg wheels.

In order to rotate the paper platen 11 step by step for line spacing purposes, it is fast on a shaft 12 which has a ratchet l3 keyed thereon and arranged to be actuated by a spring pressed pawl 14 pivoted on a stud 15 secured to a slide plate or feed unit 16. This plate 16 has slots 17 of equal len th respectively receiving rollers 18 journall ed on studs 19 anchored in a bracket 20 of the frame 10, and the arrangement is such that the plate 16 is free to reciprocate Within the limits of the length of the slots 17, but is held against movement otherwise. The reciprocation of the plate 16 causes the line space feed pawl 14 to actuate the space feed ratchet 13 in proper timed relation in the cycle of operation.

For reciprocating the plate 16 it i provided with an offset pin, lug or cam roller 21 riding in a cam slot 22 inclined with respect to the path of movement of the plate 16 and located in a feed cam 23 which is mounted for rocking movement with a stub shaft .24. Fast to the shaft 24 a gear segment 25 meshing with another gear segment 26 on a stub shaft 27 which receives motion from a feed shaft arm 28 normally held by a spring 30, stretched from a fixed pin 31, so that the plate 16 is held with its pawl 14 out of engagement with the ratchet 13. Motion to rock the arm 28 against the tension of spring 30 takes place through the operation of a link 32 connected at one end to the arm 28 and at the other end to one arm of a hell crank 33 pivoted to the frame 10 and carrying a roller 34 on its other arm to ride on the face of a cam 35 which is fast to the main rock shaft 36 of the machine.

The foregoing parts form the step by step line spacing feed ei'uployed to advance the record paper line by line as the successive adding or tabulating steps occur and in pro er timed relation. Thus as the main sha t 36 delivers the return stroke its cam 35 positively rocks the bell crank 33 to transmit motion to the link 32 and arm 28 to turn the gears 25 and 26 so that the cam 23 is rocked in the direction to cause the cam slot 22 to shift the plate or feed unit 16 that the pawl 14% is drawn by its spring ,37

against the ratchet 13 to causethe latter to turn the necessary distance to feed the paper platen 11 one line space.

In the operation of tabulating machine's it has been found occasion arises where it is desirable to discontinue the line feed of the record aper temporarily, as for example where tlie machine is under the control of perforated record cards and two cards with like perforations follow each other, one being a duplicate of the other, and only one is therefore to be recorded, and no provision has heretofore been made for accomplishing this desirable end.

For the purpose of providing a'variable automatic line feed for the record paper the plate or feed unit 16 carries a rotatable ratchet 40 provided on one face with circumferentially arranged laterally projecting pins 41, the path of movement 0 which is such that the pins are brought one by one into tangential contact with an abutment 42 on the tail 43 of the ratchet feed pawl 14 and when any pin 41 is in such contact position the awl 14 is held out of engagement with t e ratchet 13 on an o crating stroke of the plate 16. The circum erential distance between adjacent pins 41 is suflicicnt to allow the tail abutment 42 to enter between the two pins 41 so that when the ratchet 40 is in a position to cause two adjacent pins 41 to straddle the abutment 42, the latter is free to swing and allows the pawl 14 to feed the ratchet 13 on an operating Stroke of the plate 16.

In order to give the desired step by step movement to the variable or alternating feed ratchet 40. an intermittent feed pawl 44 is provided which is pivoted at 45 to part 20 on the frame 10. In the present instance the pawl 44 is held in engagement with the ratchet 40 by the same spring 37 which controls the pawl 14. In other words the spring 37 is stretched between the two pawls 14 and 44 and has a dual function of holding both pawls for cngagcmcnt with their respective ratchcts 13 and 40.

In case it is desired to render the variable or alternating feed mechanism inoperative so that the regular line for line spacing takes place at each tabulating step of the machine, a pivoted throw-out lever 46 is provided having a lug or side extension 47 arranged to swing bet wccn the ratchet 40 and the pawl 44 to press back and hold the pawl 44 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 40, and when the throw-out lever 46 is in its hold-out position the pawl 44 is held in such position that it cannot cng c with the teeth of the ratchet 40. If this e done at a time when two of the pins 41 are in straddled relation with respect to abutment 42, then the awl 14 is left free to act upon the feed rate et 13 for normal line spacing at each operation. If, however, this be done at a time when a in 41 stands over the abutment 42, then t 1e pawl 14 will be constantly disabled so that any number of operations of the shaft 36 may accur without efi'ecting any line 5 acing whatever.

In order to hol out the line space feed pawl 14 to insert paper and to rotate the platen in either direction a disengaging lever 48 is provided having a leg 50 arranged to assume a position in abutting relation and in the path of movement of a pin 51 rejecting from the tail 43 of the pawl 14. I he two levers 46 and 48 are pivoted on the pin 52 which serves as the support for the ratchet 40, and a spring 53 and nut 54 maintains a frictional engagement of the parts to prevent improper movement theretof.

In the present construction the feed ratchet 40 is provided with twelve teeth and six pins 41 and hence the paper platen 11 is fed every alternate stroke of the. machine. This arrangement is employed for record cards arranged in a group consisting of master cards and duplicates thereof, each duplicate card succeeding its master card in the analyzing unit of the tabulator. Thus it a master card and its duplicate are perforated to tabulate the number 60024 this number will be printed twice on the paper one printing being exactly superposed upon another and showing the cards correctly mated, but if a master card and its duplicate cause a blurred printing the record shows an incorrect mating, either caused by an errdr in one card or that the two cards do not relate to the same transaction. It is to be understood that the number of pins 41 can be varied to cause feeding actions different from the alternating feed here shown, and the invention is not limited to the construction here taken as illustrative of one form thereof.

In operation the illustrated auxiliary feed control causes the line feed pawl 14 to be held out of engagement with its ratchet 13 on every other working step of the machine; thus with the ratchet 40 in the position shown in Fig. 3, a pin 41 is located to hold the line pawl 14 out of engagement with its ratchet 13 during the down stroke of the plate 16 and con equently there will be no feeding of the paper platen and whatever is printed at the next operation will he superposed upon the printing made at the present operation. (in the up stroke of the plate 16. the pawl 44 advances its ratchet 40 one tooth and so brings the space between the two pins 41 in register with the abut mcnl- 1'12 and hence releases the pawl 14 to the action of the spring 43 so that the next down stroke of the plate to causes the pawl 14 to move its ratchet 13 one tooth and ad- Vance the paper platen 11 one space. In this way the master card has its data printed in on a blank line of the paper and the fob lowing duplicate card has its data printed in superposed relation 11 on the printed record for the master card It will now be apparent that a complete unitary mechanism has been provided for printing tabulators whereby the paper feeding means can be varied automatically and the rest periods of; the intermittent control automatically changed during the operation of the machine. Also the mechanism embodies a means to disable the intermittent variable feed control according to requirements to produce a uniform step by stop line space operation. By the provision of manually operable means the feed mechanism can be disengaged at will so that the paper platen is released for movement in either direction. The device not only provides for running a group of cards arranged in like pairs with tabulation only of the data of one card of each pair but provides a check whereby any difference between primary and secondary cards can be ascertained without delay.

While only a single form is shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, but might be applied to various forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1.. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of an intermittentl movable part, a platen. means controlled y said part for imparting a step-by-step movement to said platen, and means for periodically rcmlcring said step-by-step means ineffective, whereby "the same line of said platen is held in printing position for more than one movement of said part.

In a machine of the character stated, the combination of an intermittently movable part, a platen, means controlled by said part for inparting a step-by-lstep movement to said platen, means for periodicalflky rendering said stcp-by-step means inc ective, and means for causing said step;by-step means to resume operation after each inopcrntivo period.

3. In a'machinc of the character stated, the combination of an intermittently mov able part, means con rolled by said part for imparting a step-by step movement to said platen, and means for rendering said stepby-step means inoperative on alternate movements of said part.

4. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a movable part, a platen, means including a pawl and ratchet actuated by said part for imparting a step-by-step movement to said platen, and means for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet on certain movements of said art, whereby the same line on said platen 18 held in printing position for more than one movement of said part.

5. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a movable part, a platen, means including a pawl and ratchet actuated by said part for imparting a. step by-step movement to said platen, means for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet on certain movements of said part, whereby the same line on said platen is held in printing position for more than one movement of said part, and means for amomatically releasing said holding means alter a predetermined movement of said part.

6. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said platen, and means including a rotatable element for periodically rendering said stepby-step means ineffective, whereby said platen is periodically held in printing position longer at one time than another.

7. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen. means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said platen, and means including a plurality of pins arranged in a predetermined manner for periodically rendering said step-by-stcp means ineffective, whereby said platen is held in printing position longer at One time than another.

8. In a machine of the characterstated, the combination of a platen, means for feedmg said platen to successive line printing positions, and means for periodically varymg said feeding means, whereby certain line printing positions are maintained longer than others.

9. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means for feedmg said platen to successive line printing positions, means for periodically varying said feeding means, whereby certain line printing positions are maintained longer than others, and means for rendering said varying means netl'ective.

10. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means including a pawl and ratchet for feeding said platen to successive line printing positions, and means including stop pins for periodically holding said pawl out of operation, whereby certain line printing positionsarc maintained. longer than others.

11. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, a movable member, means for effecting line spacing movement of said platen at each operation of said member, automatic means for rendering the first said means ineffective, and means for rendering the second said means ineffective.

12. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means for linelUO spacing said platen, manually operable means for rendering the line-spacing means inetl'ective, and automatically operable means for rendering the line-spacing means inellective.

13. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means for linespwcing said platen, manually operable means for rendering the line-spacing means ineffective. automatically operable means forrendcring the line-spacing means inefiective, and means for rendering said automatically operable means ineffective at the will of the operator.

14. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen; a pawl and ratchet for effecting linespacing of said platen; mechanism for rendering said pawl and ratchet ineffective, said mechanism including a pin cooperative with said pawl; and manual means for rendering said pawl and ratchet ineffective.

15. In a machine of the character stated. the combination of a. platen; a pawl and ratchet for efi'ectin line-spacing of said platen; mechanism or rendering said pawl and ratchet ineffective, said mechanism including a pin. cooperative with said pawl; operating means for said mechanism; and means for rendering said operating means ineffective with relation to said mechanism.

16. In a machine of the character stated, thecombination of a. platen; a pawl and ratchet for effecting line-spacing of said platen; mechanism for rendering said pawl and ratchet inelfective; common operating means for said pawl and ratchet and for said mechanism; and means for rendering said operating means ineffective with relation to said mechanism.

17. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen; a pawl and ratchet for effecting line-spacing of said platen; mechanism for rendering said pawl and ratchet inefiective; common operating means for said pawl and ratchet and for said mechanism; and means for rendering said operating means ineffective with relation to said pawl and ratchet and with relation to said mechanism.

18. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, means for effecting line-spacing of said platen, operating means for said line-spacing means, means for automatically periodically disahling said line-spacing means, and means for causing said disabling means to disable said line-spacing means during; any desired number of operations of said operating means.

19. In a machine of the character stated. the combination of a g'ilaten, a pawl and ratchet for effecting line-spacing of said platen, operating means for said pawl and ratchet, means for automatically pcriodi cally disabling said pawl and ratchet, and means for causing said disabling means to disable said pawl and ratchet during any desired number of operations of said operatlug means.

20. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a platen, a pawl and ratchet for effecting line-spacing of said platen, operating means for said pawl and ratchet, means for automatically periodically disabling said pawl and ratchet, said disabling means including a pin for cooperation with said pawl, and means for cansing said pin to cooperate with said pawl during any desired number of operations of said 0 crating means.

21. n a machine of the character stated. the combination of a platen, a pawl and ratchet for effecting line-spacing of said platen, operating means for said pawl and ratchet, means for automatically periodi cally disabling said pawl and ratchet, said disabling means including a plurality oi: pins for cooperation with said pawl, and means for causing one of said pins to cooperate with said pawl during any desired number of operations of said operating means.

22. In a machine of the character stated. the combination of a platen, a pawi and ratchet for effecting hne'spacing of said platen, operating means for said pawl and ratchet, means for automatically periodi cally disabling said pawl and ratchet, said disabling means including a plurality of pins for cooperation with. said pawl, and means for causing any one of said pins to cooperate with said pawl during any de sired number of operations of said operating means.

Signed at New York, county of New York, State of New York, this 5th day of Aagnst,

WILLIAM W'. LASKER. JOHN MUELLER. 

